New member, first question... Baby GCC wrestling on back.

Hello all! I'm so glad I found this site as a new pineapple GCC dad. Have had little Kiwi for about a month now and she is about 12 weeks old.

She is very comfortable with us, no fear, no aggression (some minor nippiness, but successfully minimizing it with training so far). Breeder did a great job hand raising.

All is well, but noticed a new curious behavior this week that I wanted to inquire about...

Little one recently began flipping over on her back (with or without help) and seemed to be wrestling with us... a little nippiness accompanies this. She seems to like it and getting tummy and under wings rubbed at the same time....

Question: Is she just playing or is there some other meaning to this behavior in a GCC at this early age?

Totally normal. Just be sure to stop playing when she nips too hard. You can encourage her to play but be sure not to enforce strong nips. At that age she is still learning "how hard is too hard" and you want to be sure to teach her bite pressure control during play


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that's just playing. conures are some of the few parrots who will play like this. My first Green cheek would flip on his back if I got his favorite ball and hold his feet in the air so he could play with it on his back which was his favorite game.

This is a really good sign for you though, it means he's happy and feels safe around you. The nipping is much like you get with a baby/puppy, they're just exploring you and don't know what sort of pressure to put on their beak. Just a bit of bite training will need to be done, don't pull your hand away and don't yelp or make a fuss. Best thing to do is just freeze, they soon learn the fun stops when they turn beaking into a bite

D'aww <3

That sounds completely normal. My GCC likes cuddling on her back if she's in the right mood (she'll stay perfectly still on her back in my hand if I pet her neck right). Sometimes she'll do wrestling as you described in her cage and she'll gently nip at my fingers. You just have to make sure you teach her what type of bite-pressure is too hard. Usually these guys just want to please you, so if you tell them what's too hard then they don't bite that hard... unless they're in a grumpy mood and WANT to bite you hard (but that's another issue altogether).

I've found it helpful to have a particular phrase that tells my parrot when her bite is too hard. I use "be nice" and 9/10 times she'll lighten up immediately.

PLay, 100%. A lot of parrots will play on their back, if thy like doing it. Conures and Caiques almost to a bird like play like that, Other species wll depending on the bird. Some Macaws will, my own Salty ( Yellow SHoulder Amazon) plays like that. Encourage it, it's some of the best fun you will have with your parrot.

Thank you all for the reassurance... my little pile of feathers and I are bonding well it seems. I just wanted to make sure this was a good behavior that I should reinforce. She's so much fun when she's in the mood to "wrestle" on her back.

My GCC is about 17 weeks now and seems to spend as much time upside down as the right way up. The only time he nips is if I stop playing and he wants more. I can almost hear the whining; Again Mummy AGAIN! Just have to remember to wind it down before it turns into tears (over excitement).

I wouldn't reinforce the rough housing behaviour just because they could become quite a brat when they hit puberty which you don't want

Sheesh both my critters love to birdie "wrestle".. Nothing like a good session of "tickle my belly" or "pull my tail" to make em happy. My Amazon is so gentle with his bites during these playtimes and gives out lil squeals of delight... Lil Booger my SC isn't as gentle but still he doesn't apply enuff pressure to break the skin. Rough house play with my youngins is truly a bonding experience for all.

Good post, I was going to ask about this but everything was answered here. My GCC loves to play fight, on his back, on his front. Mostly I just put my hand up and go rawr rawr and he does too and then he gets his foot on my finger and won't let go. after we get going he just makes his chirp chirp happy sounds whether I put him on his back or not. Really I'm just petting him, not even hard, but he likes it.... minutes later we are trading I love yous.

I did see a youtube video with a cockatiel and a conure and that seems to be their kung-fu style of fighting, the conure was annoyed at the cocaktiel and grabbed it's leg and basically ankle bit him...not hard, but enough to say no I don't want your attention.

So in all if he grabs onto you, won't let go, and isn't trying to get away, and is making more of a show then actually trying to nip or anything; he's just enjoying the attention and it's fine. He's just using conure kung-fu without trying to hurt you.

Ollie used to play on his back but he's growing up now and has stopped rolling on his back all. He'll still let me kiss his tummy and be on his back in my hands. I thought the playing on back was a baby behavior mostly no?

don't really know, mine seams to like being on his back or upside down or sideways or whatever direction I can put him in, but hes a little over two years old...Not sure what he will like in the future.